Editing Altar (section)

==Shinto==
[[File:Kamidana.jpg|thumb|A Shinto {{lang|ja-latn|[[Kamidana]]}} (household altar) in Japan. Note the {{Lang|ja-latn|shimenawa}}, a rope demarking the sanctuary area seen above, along the ceiling.]]
{{Main|Jinja (Shinto)|Himorogi}}

In [[Shinto]], altars are found in shrines. Originating in ancient times, {{Lang|ja-latn|himorogi}} are temporarily erected sacred spaces or "altars" used as a locus of worship. A physical area is demarcated with branches of green [[bamboo]] or {{Lang|ja-latn|sakaki}} at the four corners, between which are strung sacred border [[rope]]s ({{Lang|ja-latn|shimenawa}}). In the center of the area a large branch of {{Lang|ja-latn|sakaki}} festooned with sacred emblems ({{Lang|ja-latn|hei}}) is erected as a ''[[yorishiro]]'', a physical representation of the presence of the [[kami]] and toward which rites of worship are performed.

In more elaborate cases, a {{Lang|ja-latn|himorogi}} may be constructed by placing a rough straw mat upon the ground, then erecting a ceremonial eight-legged stand ({{Lang|ja-latn|hakkyaku an}}) upon the mat, and decorating the stand with a frame festooned with sacred border ropes and sacred border emblems. Finally the {{Lang|ja-latn|sakaki}} branch is erected in the center of this stand as the focus of worship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://k-amc.kokugakuin.ac.jp/DM/detail.do?class_name=col_eos&data_id=22463 |publisher=Kokugakuin University |title=Encyclopedia of Shinto |access-date=2017-10-06 |archive-date=2017-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007021116/http://k-amc.kokugakuin.ac.jp/DM/detail.do?class_name=col_eos&data_id=22463 |url-status=dead }}</ref>